Nigerian President Holds Meeting With Chief Justice

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari held a closed door meeting with the Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen on Tuesday.

DENISAURUS News understands that the meeting took place at the State House, Abuja.

The meeting with the head of the Nigerian Federal Court comes days after the President admitted to approving the sum of $462 million (equivalent to N151,394,421,335.00) from the Excess Crude Account, ECA without the approval of the legislative arm of government.

To withdraw funds from the ECA, the President is mandated to seek approval from the National Assembly and the 36 state Houses of Assembly.

“No moneys shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the Federation, other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation unless the issue of those moneys has been authorised by an Act of the National Assembly,” Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution reads.

The President is said to have authorised the release of the money so as to secure 12 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States government.

This explanation was contained in a letter President Buhari, 75, sent to the House of Representatives and was read by the Speaker in the green chamber.

President Buhari’s approval of the money for aircraft expected to be delivered in 2020, given without legislative backing is a clear breach of Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution – an act that can cause the 75-year-old to be impeached.

Leading social activists are calling on the Senate to probe the matter and take a decisive action immediately.